The following is a message from Pastor Andy Elms from Portsmouth, England....and I am sharing his thoughts with you.
See yourself through His eyes
Jeremiah 29:11–14 (NIV)For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity.

We have been looking at these verses all week, and drawn some great principles from it:
God has plans for you. You don’t have to settle for yours or other people's.
His plans are to do you good and involve health, wealth and future.
He wants to daily reveal to us the true potential we have within; that which He packed in us before we were born.
He is not looking for superstars - just faithful, agreeable people who will say "Yes!" even when they feel potentially unable in their own ability.

The Bible is full of people that were unlikely but chosen by God; to name just a few:
Moses: On the run, speech impediment – God uses Him to deliver a nation from captivity.
Gideon: Found hiding in a wine press with nothing positive to say – God uses him to lead armies into battle totally outnumbered.
David: Was a shepherd boy, overlooked and despised by His own family – God saw a king, the king of all Israel.
Rahab: A prostitute – God used her to lead the children of Israel through a vital part of their journey.
The Bible has so many more. The point is, God has plans for you! Don’t worry about what you think you can do - if He calls you to a purpose He has equipped you for it; that’s grace.
Couple more thoughts
When we discover His plans for our lives we know according to the above verses that, when we pray, He listens. That’s a great thought for today: know in your heart when you pray to the Father that He listens. He may be running a universe but He will take time to stop and listen to you. Also, He is there to be found by us - all we need to do is seek Him with all of our hearts. He is not hiding not to be found, but to see if anyone can be bothered. Be bothered! Seek Him and He promises you will find Him.
Thirdly, He promises to bring us ever out of captivity. Remember what Galatians says: "It was for freedom that Christ has set you free". God wants to daily break the power of captivity in our lives, whether it be emotional, financial or any other area. His plans for you are freedom, freedom in every area of your life – who the Son sets free is free indeed. Again, today, submit to Him, worship Him, commit your ways to Him and let Him lead you out of captivity and into freedom beyond what you have ever known.

Reasons to Pray

He loves us, He is worthy to be adored, He is worthy of the highest praise, He is my everything! Simply and completely.....God answers prayer. I like talking to Him because He truely listens and knows me better than I even know myself. Again, simply and completely....God answers prayer.

I Shall Not Be Moved

Jeremiah 17:4
For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river....
Pslam 1:3
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper
That tree was there by the river because,
#1. That's where it was planted
#2. It's roots were able to find life giving nourishment and sustenance; the tree had everything it
needed to live a blessed life right at it's root tips.
#3. God gave it growth where it was planted, it produced fruit, the right kind at the right time.
#4. Why would it want to go anywhere else?
This question made a light bulb go on in my head. If we are where God has planted us (in His Word) then He will give us the nourishment and growth we are desiring from Him and WHY would we want to go anywhere else? This place where we are planted is not always a "physical" location, but a spiritual one. We are human and have the tendency to think in the physical realm of things. But, I believe that the Lord is speaking about this in the spiritual realm.
Lord Jesus, let me be planted in Your Word and in the ministry you have placed me in. Let my roots grow down deep into You, You are my sustenance, You are my everything,
I SHALL NOT BE MOVED!!!!

The Delights of His Love

This is my first "blog" in many months, but I am hoping to use the SOAP study that Pastor Jaron taught us about, a few Sundays ago, and incorporate it into my "Music of Praise" blog.
I write them out long hand in my journal and will subsequently share some of them with you.

S= Song of Solomon 7:6b .....how complete the delights of Your love.

O= The Lord loves me and completes me.

A= I need to look to the Lord for my completion, in every facet of life.

P= Lord Jesus, Help me to know and see You love, me everyday. To feel Your love in my heart,
acknowlege Your love in my life and give me the wisdom to see Your hands at work in my life
and the lives of my children. Thank You Lord, that my delights are complete in Your love.
In Jesus Name, Amen

The Blessing of Being a Breakthrough People

Around the New Year I always ask myself....what are my goals for the coming year. Last new year I felt very impressed that this year would be a time for me to realize who I really am in Christ Jesus. Imagine that...a Christian for over 34 years and I am just now seeking this? Not really. I have felt as though I knew who I was in Jesus....I am a new creation in Him...set free from the bondage of sin and death.....But there is so much more. A new level of maturity even for those of us who have been walking with the Lord for years. Last night a visiting pastor preached on the title of this blog....it was spiritually refreshing and liberating! Just a short time ago I began to think again of my goal for 2008 as I have periodically throughout the year....and I was thinking....Lord when are you going to show me who I am in You? His reply to my heart was...When are you going to seek for the answer in me? Last night's message was my wake up call! Thank You Jesus for being the Almighty God that You are! Jehovah God is become my salvation...my Yeshua...my Jesus..Isaiah 12. In Jesus name there is victory!

See You At The Pole

It has been an earlier morning than usual....but so worth it!!!! Today is the 19th annual "See You at the Pole". It was my first time to physically participate. Sure, I pray for the children and schools, etc. But, this morning I met them at the pole of our high school campus. Starting with the scripture the Lord placed on my heart for the occassion, John 10:27-30. Jesus speaking "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand....."
What a high honor to hear His voice and to be known by God and to follow where He leads. Praying at the pole, claiming everyone of the students, teachers, bus drivers, administrators, etc for Jesus Christ. Coming against anorexia, bulemia, cutting, drugs, alcohol, depression, suicide, sexual immorality and more; rebuking and binding these in Jesus Name and loosing His Holy Spirit to rule and reign. Talk about power from on High! On the drive home I felt like I was returning from a mighty time in prayer that usually I don't feel unless it was at least an hour or more. In just a short, but very focused, 20-25 minutes we saturated this school district with faith believing prayer. Thank You Jesus!
Looking forward to next years "See You at the Pole". Fourth Wednesday of September.

Fair Time

I took my son and youngest daughter to the fair. We had a Great time! We really enjoy the animal barns. Chickens (some of the funniest we have ever seen), chicks, goats, sheep, horses, cows, saw a camel and then...the bunnies. The children and I have fun personifying all of the bunny movements. We laugh and laugh! The rides were okay. My son went on the most. Though disappointed at some of the rides I wouldn't let him go on, tall enough or not, he completely enjoyed the ones he was allowed to ride. Then we played a game where you threw these little balls, one at a time, to try to get them all in a straight line. If you are the first to do so...you win. I am glad that in the Christian Race, it is not one of chance. Thank you, Jesus, that You have made it possible for us to be saved from sin and death. Thank You for the blood You shed at Calvary...Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice.